Meaning and Types of Adverb With Examples and Sentences

WHAT OF AN ADVERB? 

An adverb is a word that modifies (tells more about) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb. It tells how, when, where, or to what extent something happens.

Example: She runs fast. “Fast” tells how she runs (modifies the verb runs).

 

TYPES OF ADVERB 

Here are the main types of adverbs with examples and sentences.

1. Adverbs of Manner – These adverbs tell how an action is done. They often end in -ly.

Examples: quickly, slowly, happily, neatly, angrily

Sentences:

A. He speaks softly.

B. The child cried loudly.

C. She dances gracefully.

 

2. Adverbs of Time – These tell when an action happens.

Examples: today, yesterday, soon, now, later, always, never

Sentences:

A. I will call you tomorrow.

B. She never comes late.

C. They arrived early.

 

3. Adverbs of Place – These tell where an action happens.

Examples: here, there, inside, outside, everywhere, nearby

Sentences:

A. The children are playing outside.

B. Come here and sit.

C. The cat is hiding under the table.

 

4. Adverbs of Frequency – These tell how often an action happens.

Examples: always, usually, often, sometimes, rarely, never

Sentences:

A. She always wakes up early.

B. We rarely watch TV.

C. He sometimes forgets his bag.

 

5. Adverbs of Degree – These tell how much or to what extent something happens.

Examples: very, too, quite, almost, enough, extremely

Sentences:

A. The test was very easy.

B. I am too tired to walk.

C. She is quite intelligent.

 

6. Adverbs of Reason – These tell why an action happens.

Examples: therefore, thus, hence, consequently, because

Sentences:

A. He was late, therefore he missed the bus.

B. She was tired; hence, she went to bed early.

C. The roads were blocked, so we stayed home.

 

7. Interrogative Adverbs – These are used to ask questions about manner, time, place, or reason.

Examples: when, where, why, how

Sentences:

A. When will you come?

B. Where are you going?

C. Why are you sad?

D. How did you do that?

 

8. Relative Adverbs – These join clauses and relate to a noun they refer to.

Examples: when, where, why

Sentences:

A. I remember the day when we met.

B. This is the place where I was born.

C. Tell me the reason why you are upset.

 

SUMMARY 

Type of Adverb	What it Tells	Examples	Sample Sentence
Manner	How	quickly, slowly	She runs quickly.
Time	When	today, later	We’ll meet later.
Place	Where	here, there	Come here.
Frequency	How often	always, never	He always smiles.
Degree	How much	very, quite	It’s very cold.
Reason	Why	therefore, hence	He was tired, therefore he slept.
Interrogative	To ask	when, how	How are you?
Relative	To join clauses	where, when	The time when we met.